Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy ‘Babu’ Ouma was unavailable as his Swedish club IF Elfsborg beat French side OGC Nice 1-0 in a UEFA Europa League clash staged at Boras Arena on Thursday night.The midfielder’s omission from the Matchday squad comes on the back of reports, linking him to a transfer move in the January window.Last week, Czech Republic giants Slavia Prague reportedly tabled a bid worth Ksh465 million for Ouma’s signature.##NAJAVA_MECA_8650042##However, Elfsborg, who handed the midfielder a new deal in October last year, is understood to have turned down Slavia’s bid.Last year, former Italian champions AS Roma and a host of English clubs reportedly expressed interest in the former Nairobi City Stars man.Despite the absence of Ouma, who has been influential in domestic and European matches, Elfsborg managed a slim win against the already-eliminated Nice to boost their chances of sealing a place in the playoff.Kenyan midfielder close to sealing record Ksh465 million move to Czech RepublicGustav Niklas Henriksson scored the all-important goal for the hosts in the 62nd minute.Elsfborg are currently placed 20th on the Europa League log with 10 points and will hope to secure favourable results, against English Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur in the final group stage match on Thursday next week.With the top eight slots in the competition already sealed, Elfsborg will have to ensure that they upset Spurs, and subsequently, try their luck in the playoffs.REPORTS: Kazakhstan giants table hundreds of millions for Harambee Stars left backThe top eight advance directly to the Round of 16; sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the play-offs, with the victors going through to the last 16.Anderlecht, Athletic Club, AZ Alkmaar, Bodø/Glimt, Eintracht Frankfurt, FCSB, Galatasaray, Lyon, Manchester United, Olympiacos, Rangers, Tottenham, Union SG and Viktoria Plzeň have all advanced to the round of 16.Dynamo Kyiv, Ludogorets, Malmö, Nice, Qarabağ, RFS, and Slavia Praha have already bid the competition farewell.
